U.S., Australia share new communications satellites

Representatives from the U.S. Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force met at the Australian Embassy here to sign a memorandum of agreement that will provide both nations assured access to the Wideband Global SATCOM system, expanding the WGS constellation to six satellites. The expansion will

UAV detachment stands up at Creech

A new detachment has been established at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., to manage MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle operational test and evaluation and force development evaluation for Air Combat Command. The Airmen assigned to Det. 4, a unit of the 53rd Test Management Group based

Air Force individuals, units win federal Energy and Water Management Award

A number of Air Force people, units and bases were honored here Oct. 31 with the 2007 Federal Energy and Water management award, presented by Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman. Those awarded came from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.; Goodfellow AFB, Texas; Kirtland AFB, N.M.; Randolph AFB, Texas;

GPS set to launch on History Channel

Is GPS a modern marvel? A three-person film crew from Actuality Productions visited the base Oct. 30 to find out. The crew visited the 2nd Space Operations Squadron here and interviewed 2nd SOPS Commander Lt. Col. Kurt Kuntzelman for an upcoming episode of the History Channel's "Modern Marvels" TV

Researchers create family of composite materials

Scientists funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research have constructed an entirely new class of materials that potentially could aid Air Force missions. Dr. David Avnir, Head of the Institute of Chemistry at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, led scientists to a surprising

Global Hawk, U-2 capture essential wildfires images

Throughout the week Air Forces Northern tasked specialized aircraft to provide firefighting commanders and civil authorities with photos and video of Southern California wildfires. Among the aircraft were the RQ-4 Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and U-2 Dragon Lady from Beale Air Force Base,

Commander foresees Air Force mastery of cyberspace

Information technology is a two-edged sword the Air Force must wield more expertly than the nation's enemies, said the commander of Air Force Materiel Command during an Oct. 25 speech at the InfoTech Conference in Dayton, Ohio. Gen. Bruce Carlson discussed today's fight against terrorism, including

Space Command welcomes new leader

"Space capabilities have shaped the American way of warfare in the 21st century, just like airpower did in the 20th," said Gen. C. Robert "Bob" Kehler as he assumed command of Air Force Space Command in a ceremony here Oct. 24 presided over by Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Duncan J. McNabb.

Beale expands environmental cleanup ability

Beale Air Force Base environmental members, in conjunction with environmental consultants, recently completed a project that greatly expands the base's ability to perform critical environmental cleanup operations. The project uses a revolutionary process that naturally cleans contaminated

Leaders unveil new partnership for acquisition

Air Force Materiel Command officials here and acquisition professionals at the Pentagon have recently formed a new partnership to overcome weapon-system acquisition challenges, according to senior Air Force leaders.Sue C. Payton, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, and Gen.

Airmen support space shuttle launch

Members of the 45th Space Wing here supported NASA's successful launch of Space Shuttle Discovery Oct. 23 from Space Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center on the 23rd mission to the International Space Station. The wing's support included providing weather forecasts, helping organize and train

Wargame explores Air Force options for 2030

While exercising the strategic proverb of a legendary 16th Century samurai warrior, 130 military strategists and planners gathered here Oct. 14 through 19 to explore future Air Force constructs based on technologies and concepts of the year 2030. Miyamoto Musashi stressed the importance of making

Program encourages scientific collaborations

As panel members convene for the organization's 50th annual meeting, a five-nation program geared toward collaboration in defense science and technology is looking at its past and charting its future, a senior Defense Department official said. Andre van Tilborg, deputy undersecretary of defense for

AFIT students conduct payload testing for space shuttle

Air Force Institute of Technology students from the graduate school of engineering and management's department of aeronautics and astronautics recently completed testing of their flight hardware experiment in preparation for an upcoming space shuttle mission, STS-123. Rigidizable Inflatable

Worldwide weather system installations completed

The Electronic Systems Center here has wrapped up a five-year, $70 million effort to replace 110 fixed-based weather sensing systems at sites across the globe. The center and the prime contractor, Coastal Environmental Systems of Seattle, Wash., completed the final installation in Southwest Asia

Air Force provides global GPS coverage

The Air Force successfully launched a United Launch Alliance Delta II booster carrying the fourth modernized GPS satellite into space Oct. 17 at 8:23 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 17A here. The satellite will join the constellation of 30 operational satellites on orbit providing global coverage

AFMC helps develop hybrid truck technology

When it comes to heavy-duty, special purpose vehicles, some Americans may imagine a gas-guzzling engine and tons of unfriendly emissions taking their toll on the environment. But the Air Force's Advanced Power Technology Office, or APTO, here is working to change the stereotype and prove heavy-duty

Chain of successes leads to Reaper operations

The new MQ-9 Reaper has flown daily missions over Afghanistan since late September.The 658th Aeronautical Systems Squadron, in the 303rd Aeronautical Systems Wing, comprises the team of program managers, functional supporters, testers and logisticians who were behind the team effort of getting the

Geospatial system development team honored

A team that developed a system that allows users at North American Aerospace Command and U.S. Northern Command to quickly and easily access detailed geospatial data has been selected to receive the 2007 United States Geospatial Foundation's achievement award in the military category. The four

Global Cyberspace Integration Center mission formalized

The Air Force Global Cyberspace Integration Center here took a step forward in the Air Force's effort to "Fly and Fight in Cyberspace" following the signature of a new mission directive. The directive, signed by Lt. Gen. Michael W. Peterson, Air Force Warfighting Integration and chief information

Awards shine spotlight on Air Force's best, brightest

The efforts of the best and the brightest scientists, technicians and engineers were honored at the Air Force Scientist & Engineer and Science & Technology Awards ceremony that took place here Oct. 4.Among the award winners was 2nd Lt. Robert Bethancourt, recognized for his outstanding contributions

Air Force, Boeing team up for early-orbit operations

Airmen with the 3rd Space Operations Squadron and Boeing Corporation contractors  took over early-orbit operations on Wideband Global SATCOM Satellite Vehicle 1 from a Boeing facility in El Segundo, Calif., Oct. 10, approximately 30 minutes after it launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,

First next-generation communications satellite launches

The Air Force launched the first of a next generation of military communications satellites from here Oct. 10 at 8:22 p.m. EDT, when a United Launch Alliance Atlas V booster carried a Wideband Global SATCOM satellite into space. WGS is the nation's next-generation wideband satellite communications

Raven B has landed in Southwest Asia

A small unmanned aerial vehicle is now being used to increase the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing's force protection capabilities. Maintained and operated by the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, the Raven B is the wing's sixth and smallest aircraft, weighing 4.2 pounds with a wing span of

Fall 2007 Airman now available online

The F-22 Raptor is coming into its own, flying high and turning heads. Its pilots and maintainers are discovering just how much the stealth jet can do. The Airmen are finding there is no other aircraft that even comes close to matching the Raptor's capabilities -- the new benchmark for

Team re-engineers network environment

What was a maze of 35 antiquated routers, switches and load balancers used to direct millions of e-mails each day is now a streamlined set of seven all-in-one nodes that saves time, money and resources. "It's like trading in your Chevy truck for a BMW," said Capt. Drew Masur, a network and boundary

Double deck aircraft mockup aids firefighting research

Responding to operational challenges posed by the new generation of large double deck aircraft, Air Force Research Laboratory engineers here have developed a mockup to research how to best fight fires and save lives in the event of a crash. The AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate Airbase

Hypersonic vehicle completes inaugural flight

A hypersonic vehicle comprising five innovative payloads accomplished a successful, six-minute flight during its initial mission Sept. 20 here. The hypersonic vehicle was designed and developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.

Gen. Chilton confirmed to head USSTRATCOM

The commander of Air Force Space Command received Senate confirmation Sept. 28 to be the new commander of U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb."I am humbled by the confidence that the secretary of Defense and the president have put in me with the nomination, and humbled by (the

F-22 performs first drop of small diameter bomb

The F-22 Raptor Combined Test Force staff conducted the first airborne separation of a small diameter bomb from the internal weapons bay of an F-22 during a September test mission here. "This is a major milestone for the F-22 modernization roadmap," said Lt. Col. Daniel Daetz, the 411th Flight Test

Data shared across systems, services, intel communities

By providing interoperability among 19 systems, four security domains, four networks, six countries and three continents, members of the Electronic Systems Center here recently demonstrated a level of connectivity some previously thought impossible. When the 950th Electronic Systems Group's DIB

Aerial intercept training prepares warfighters

F-16 Fighting Falcon crews practiced rapid response situations during aerial intercept training held Sept. 24 at Andersen Air Force Base.The training took advantage of deployed airframes present on the island, and the "hostiles" in the exercise were deployed KC-135 tankers simulating enemy

Foreign air force members learn about C-130 programs

Members of the Kazakhstan Republic air force visited here this month in an effort to learn more about how the U.S. Air Force takes care of business. The seven-person group visited the C-130 Hercules combat loss replacement program, where modifications are made to enable C-130s to be combat ready to

Cyberspace expert briefs AFA conference attendees

"The first battle in the wars of the future will be over the control of cyberspace," said Dr. Lani Kass at the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition Sept. 26 in Washington. Ms. Kass, a special assistant to the Air Force chief of staff, has long been an expert on

Air Force energy initiatives focus on fuel, beyond

Leaders of Air Force energy policy and programs convened here Sept. 25 to discuss the Air Force's direction and initiatives in the realm of renewable and alternative energy sources. William C. Anderson, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics and senior

Air Mobility Battlelab casts a BrightEye

Members of the Air Mobility Battlelab here recently demonstrated a unique lighting system that is versatile, economical and portable for U.S. expeditionary forces. The BrightEye Portable Solid-State LED Lighting System is an advanced, portable, battery-powered, visible and covert lighting system

Air Force Space Command general speaks at AFA conference

General Kevin Chilton, Air Force Space Command commander, addressed hundreds of military members and civilians at the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition Sept. 25. The general, nominated to become the head of U.S. Strategic Command, expounded on the history of

General Moseley kicks off AFA conference

The Air Force chief of staff spoke at the opening ceremonies for the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition Sept. 24. "This is a celebration of being a separate service with a primary mission of flying and fighting and defending our country," Gen. T. Michael Moseley

Deployed gunners have eagle eyes with safer turret system

Security forces Airmen here are now training with a new high-technology weapons system currently being used during outside-the-wire patrols in Iraq. Instructors from the Army's Military Police School from Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., trained members of the 820th Security Forces Group in the effective use

Shaw pilots hear better with new earpiece

Pilots from Shaw Air Force Base are now being fitted with the new Attenuating Custom Communication Earpiece System, which clarifies communication and provides better hearing protection than they currently receive. The Attenuating Custom Communication Earpiece System, or ACCES, earphone is the shape

Schriever Airmen transition to new GPS control system

Space systems experts with the 2nd Space Operations Squadron here reached a crucial milestone in deploying the $800-million Architecture Evolution Plan ground control system Sept. 14. The transition from legacy to Architecture Evolution Plan, called AEP, was conducted seamlessly in real time without

Air Force secretary announces provisional Cyber Command

The secretary of the Air Force announced the Air Force is officially standing up a provisional Cyberspace Command during his address at the Air Force 60th anniversary celebration Sept. 18 at the Pentagon. Secretary Michael W. Wynne said the provisional command, called AFCYBER (P), will be located at

Celestial Eagle: Historic anti-satellite mission remembered

The F-15 Eagle test pilot settled into the cockpit of the fighter jet at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., awaiting takeoff with a 2,700 pound, 18-foot long missile mounted to the jet's centerline. The mission, dubbed the "Celestial Eagle Flight," called for a nearly vertical ascent to 35,000 feet and

Robins Breakout program benefits Air Force, local businesses

The Robins Air Force Base U-2S program is "breaking out" and saving time, energy and money by using the expertise of local businesses. The 560th Aircraft Sustainment Group, which maintains the U-2 program, has been using the Breakout program since 1985, and base officials said the program has saved

Air Force to hold industry forum for energy projects

Air Force officials will host an Energy Enhanced Use Lease Industry Forum Sep. 26 and 27 in California to give private industry and community stakeholders an opportunity to learn how the service intends to use energy projects, both renewable and conventional. During the two-day forum, which will be

New software enhances mission report data analysis capability

In response to a warfighter need for automated mission report data management capability, the Global Cyberspace Integration Center here joined Air Force Research Laboratories to develop the Mission Report Analysis Tool, or MAT. MAT data management software installed at a base in Southwest Asia is

Bold Quest improves coalition combat identification

Officials from U.S. Joint Forces Command launched its premier Coalition Combat Identification Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration, known as Bold Quest, Sept. 10 to 24 at Nellis Air Force Base and the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. The exercise has the monumental task of

C-17 alternative fuel research tests to begin

Air Mobility Command's chief scientist is now turning his attention to tests to certify Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to use an alternative fuel mix, which was certified for B-52 Stratofortess Aug. 8. "The C-17 tests will be important because it's a newer aircraft with newer materials and

Undersecretary of the Air Force heads back to school

The undersecretary of the Air Force, Dr. Ronald M. Sega, announced Aug. 30 he was resigning his post for a faculty position at Colorado State University. Dr. Sega, a former astronaut, became the undersecretary of the Air Force in 2005. His background with NASA gave him vast credibility as the Air

Space experts meet to address warfighter needs

More than 70 senior leaders and experts from across the services, joint agencies and intelligence community came together Aug. 28 at Headquarters Air Force Space Command here to discuss the way ahead for operationally responsive space, or ORS. The objectives of the meeting were to clearly define

100th F-22 delivered

Air Force officials received the 100th F-22 Raptor from Lockheed Martin in Aug. 29 ceremonies in Marietta. The milestone aircraft -- Air Force serial number 05-0100 -- will be assigned to the 90th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne

E-Pubs migrate to Air Force Public Web

Whether you are a warfighter in Iraq or a retired Airman in Nebraska, accessing Air Force forms or publications is now easier than ever due to a centralized Web site that began Aug. 24.The Air Force Departmental Publishing Office, or e-Pubs, officially migrated under the Air Force Public Web program

Wilford Hall opens Joint Warfighter Refractive Surgery Center

Cutting-edge laser eye surgery procedures for active-duty servicemembers are now available as 59th Medical Wing officials opened the first Department of Defense Joint Warfighter Refractive Surgery Center Aug. 23 here.  The $2.7 million renovated facility houses the most advanced technology available

Summit tracks warfare center consolidation

Senior Air Force leaders gathered at the Pentagon Aug. 23 for a U.S. Air Force Warfare Center Summit. The purpose of the summit was to track progress and consider new initiatives in the ongoing effort to forge a single warfare center within the Air Force. The vision is a simple but powerful one,

A-10 Thunderbolt II gets technological 'thumbs up'

The precision engagement modified A-10C Thunderbolt II received its Initial Operational Capability Aug. 21 during a ceremony here. The A-10C has received its most significant modifications in its 30-year history, said Lt. Col. Ralph Hansen, chief of A-10 requirements for Air Combat Command. The

Barksdale Airmen recreate history

Several units from Barksdale Air Force Base added their mark to a significant page in history Aug. 24 when they recreated a historical flight. The 2nd Bomb Wing, 53rd Wing, U.S. Air Force Weapons School and the 917th Wing came together for the first time to fly a maritime intercept mission. The

Info gathering made 'simple' with net-centricity

U.S. Strategic Command provides the national command authority, including the secretary of defense and the president, with information on nearly any global contingency. This information must be solid enough to enable often rapid decision-making and comprehensive enough to allow potential response

Virtual warehouse for foreign military sales sets record

With one month still remaining in fiscal 2007, the Worldwide Warehouse Redistribution Services program is approaching the $16 million mark, shattering the previous record for annual sales. Managed by the Air Force Security Assistance Center here, Worldwide Warehouse Redistribution Services, or WWRS,

Vandenberg supports successful missile defense experiment

Vandenberg space technicians successfully launched a space launch vehicle, the Chimera, Aug. 23 from North Vandenberg.  The Chimera is a modified Minuteman II booster vehicle with a simplified target payload. The launch was part of an exercise involving the tracking of a long-range target missile by

Speakers talk integration, cyberspace at conference

Nearly 5,000 government and industry officials gathered here at the Auburn University-Montgomery campus Aug. 13 to 15 for the 2007 Air Force Information Technology Conference. Hosted by the 754th Electronic Systems Group in conjunction with the city of Montgomery, the Air Force Information

Researchers working to reduce atmospheric interference

The Air Force is funding an effort to reduce atmospheric interference in free space laser communication. A team of scientists has shown new ways to deal with fading effects that occur when light interferes with itself as it propagates through atmospheric turbulence. The Air Force Office of

Space exec course reaches out to allies, Pentagon

August is a month of firsts for the National Security Space Institute as the school opens its senior-level class to international students and takes the course on the road to Washington, D.C. Called SOC-E, the Aug. 2 Space Operations Executive-level Course included its first international students

Final frontier: Closer to home than ever before

Air University officials here will host an educational symposium on the realm of space, America's dependence on the cosmos, and how military and civilian communities discuss the nation's space vulnerabilities Sept. 25 to 27 in downtown Montgomery, Ala. Headed by the National Space Studies Center at

Automated test helps maintainers solve F-15 problems

Maintainers from bases around the world are focusing their eyes on Robins Air Force Base, the 566th Combat Sustainment Squadron's test equipment office, and a new test set that officials developed as a solution to F-15 Eagle maintenance dilemmas. A new automated flight control system test set has

Secretary monitors Joint Tactical Radio System development

The secretary of the Air Force recently visited the Joint Program Executive Office in San Diego to discuss the current status of the Department of Defense-mandated Joint Tactical Radio System, or JTRS, program. Secretary Michael W. Wynne, who sits on the board of directors for the JTRS program,

Predator soars to record numbers of sorties

When terrorists tried shooting mortar rounds at Balad Air Base in July, they didn't count on the tireless, unblinking eye of an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle overhead, transmitting their every move to Airmen on the ground here. Airmen assigned to the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance

Legends inducted into Space, Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame

One man was a nuclear physicist who led the Air Force to create a command dedicated to space, while the second is an aviation legend famous for flying airplanes into space, and together they entered the Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame Aug. 8 here. The 2007 Space and Missile Pioneer

SECAF certifies synthetic fuel blends for B-52H

Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne announced the completion of the Air Force's certification of the Fischer-Tropsch fuel blend in the B-52H Stratofortress during a signing ceremony here Aug. 8. The signing ceremony certified that the blended FT and JP-8 fuel is safe for operational use in

Air Force technology helps put out fires faster

Scientists at Tyndall AFB, Fla., have developed ultra high pressure water firefighting technology that has resulted in a smaller, leaner air transportable fire truck. Starting in fiscal 2008, these new trucks can be deployed in sets of two on a C-130 Hercules, whereas the former fire trucks could

3-D models of urban environments to aid military efforts

An Air Force Office of Scientific Research-funded team at the University of California, Berkeley, has built 3-D models of urban environments for the first time in a fast, scalable and automated way. Dr. Avideh Zakhor, a professor of electrical engineering at the university, leads a team that has

Air Force signs multiyear contract for F-22

Air Force officials here signed a production contract with Lockheed Martin Corp. to add 60 F-22 Raptors to the Air Force inventory by December 2011. The multiyear contract for the fifth-generation fighters will save the Air Force $411 million compared to a traditional annual procurement program of

Center delivers new accounting, management system

A state-of-the-art financial management system that serves the Air Force and U.S. Transportation Command came to fruition last month when the Defense Enterprise Accounting and Management System Increment 1, Spiral 1 was successfully fielded at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. The DEAMS program, a vision

Info sharing allows realistic coalition training

Simulated air campaigns practiced during aircrew training scenarios gained an increased level of realism as members of the Distributed Mission Operations Center here implemented a complex, new electronic filter designed to bring more "reality" to virtual reality simulations. Exercise Northern

Air Force supports launch of NASA mission to Mars

Members of the 45th Space Wing from Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., supported Aug. 4's successful launch from here of a NASA probe that will study Mars. NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander was launched at 5:26 a.m. Eastern time aboard a Delta II booster from Space Launch Complex 17-A at Cape Canaveral. Several

Air Force integrates space operations into A-staff

Air Force officials here completed the final phase in integrating space functions into key Air Staff processes for operations, plans and requirements, or A3/5. As of Aug. 1, space functions previously found within the Directorate of Strategic Security, or A3S, have been reorganized to better

Air Force, Navy hold 'Warfighter Talks'

Air Force and Navy top uniformed leaders gathered Aug. 2 in Washington for "Warfighter Talks" to discuss ways the two services can improve upon their legacy of cooperation and interdependence as the strategic striking arms for the nation. "The Air Force and Navy are complementary strategic forces

Global Cyberspace Integration Center hot bench active

The Global Cyberspace Integration Center here houses an operations center that serves as a test bed or "hot bench" that assesses various software and information systems to detect potential problems before they are delivered to the field. A team guides innovation, experimentation and sustainment

Space institute hosts first international students

Four Australian military members recently traveled more than 10,000 miles to Peterson Air Force Base to expand their knowledge of U.S. space operations and the constantly changing global arena of space. Air Force Space Command officials invited these international students to attend the National

Center delivers interoperability between combat, mobility air forces

The Global Cyberspace Integration Center here soon will begin fielding Theater Battle Management Core System Service Pack 7, a critical system upgrade and important milestone to completing seamless interoperability with Air Mobility Command's new flagship unit and force level Global Decision Support

New communications platform helps EOD save lives, time

Explosive ordnance disposal teams deployed to the areas of responsibility throughout Southwest Asia now have one more tool to help them fight the war on terrorism. The very small aperture terminal, or VSAT, is a computer system that gives EOD teams the capability to make DSN calls and send and

Polish president visits Vandenberg's missile sites

The president of Poland came to Vandenberg Air Force Base July 17 to tour missile defense facilities located on the base and meet with Missile Defense Agency officials. The visit followed President Lech Kaczynski meeting with President George W. Bush July 15 to discuss the U.S. proposal to emplace

Air Force Cyber Command online for future operations

The Air Force's soon-to-be newest major command, Air Force Cyber Command, is still on track, or rather still online. Air Force Cyber Command is creating a foundation now for the combat Airmen of today and tomorrow, said Lt. Gen. Robert J. Elder Jr., commander of 8th Air Force here and the joint

Air Force uses new technology in cleanup

Air Force officials plan to use an innovative technology to clean up contamination at a former plating shop at the former Kelly Air Force Base in Texas. Speeding up the cleanup process at former bases fulfills an Air Force-wide goal of accelerated environmental resolution, and allows Air Force

Letter to Airmen focuses on energy consumption

In the latest Letter to Airmen, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne discusses how the Air Force is using technology to reduce its energy consumption. "We are also working innovatively on the supply side, whether it is putting the largest solar panel field to work out at Nellis (Air Force

Missile deactivation begins at Malmstrom

The first Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile was removed from a launch facility near Brady, Mont., July 12 as a result of the order to begin missile deactivation activities here.The 341st Space Wing received formal direction June 29 from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley

AFIT students conduct payload testing for space shuttle

An upcoming space shuttle mission is going to feature a flight hardware experiment designed by Air Force Institute of Technology students from the graduate school of engineering and management's department of aeronautics and astronautics. Rigidizable Inflatable Get-Away-Special Experiment, or RIGEX,

General brings Air Force story back home

A once-young usher who worked at Busch Stadium, home of the World Series multi-champion Cardinals, is a man who now ushers in technologies which go way out of the ballpark. Nearly 40 years after his days of escorting people to the stands at Busch Stadium, Maj. Gen. Thomas F. Deppe, the 20th Air

Two Space & Missile Pioneers selected for 2007

Air Force Space Command officials have announced the 2007 Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers are retired Gen. Lew Allen Jr. and retired Maj. Gen. Joe H. Engle. They will be honored at an award ceremony and a hall of fame induction luncheon here Aug. 8. General Allen, a former Air Force chief of

DOD officials offer $1 million prize for wearable power innovations

A typical dismounted troop going out for a four-day mission carries as much as 40 pounds of batteries and rechargers in his pack. Defense Department officials want to reduce that load significantly, and they're dangling a $1 million carrot to entice people to help them do it. They launched their

Airmen honor 30 years of AWACS

The 552nd Air Control Wing here celebrated the 30th anniversary of the E-3 Sentry, also known as the Airborne Warning and Control System, or AWACS, June 29 through July 1, with 552nd commanders and Airmen, past and present, coming from around the globe to share their stories. "The AWACS heritage is

Materiel Command on track to deliver more F-22s

With F-22 Raptor deliveries consistently on or ahead of schedule, Air Force officials received authorization from Congress to pursue multi-year agreements for Lots 7, 8 and 9, with the potential for cost savings in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The contracts with Lockheed Martin and Pratt &

C-130 upgrades geared to save Air Force $250M

The latest modifications for the Air Force's tactical workhorse, the C-130 Hercules are set to debut with the installation of an improved landing gear, carbon brakes and a new anti-skid system. A team of engineers and specialists from the 463rd Airlift Group here, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and

Chilton: 'We cannot afford to be surprised'

"Today, we're at the high water mark when it comes to integrating space capabilities and combat effects for the warfighter," the commander of Air Force Space Command said. Gen. Kevin P. Chilton delivered these words during the Space Warfare Symposium sponsored by the Lance P. Sijan Chapter of the

Air University reorganization yields new AF research group

Air University is creating a new, independent research institute that will supplement AU idea-generating capacity and support air and space research inquiries from the chief of staff, as well as other top-level decision makers. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley emphasized in a recent

Space Shuttle Atlantis arrives at Edwards

Air Force's cost experts analyze Academy's wind tunnel effort

When officials from the Air Force Academy decided to pursue the possibility of building a new wind tunnel, they called on the Air Force's cost experts at Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., for advice. The Financial Management Center of Expertise is the Air Force's single repository for cost analysis

Space operations streamlined

The redesignation June 18 of the 614th Space Operations Group as the 614th Air and Space Operations Center will help streamline communications at the operational level between combatant commanders and the service components, Air Force space officials said. The redesignation included the inactivation

KC-135, C-17 crews rendezvous for refuel readiness

A KC-135 aircrew from the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Japan flew to Hawaii to meet up with Hickam Air Force Base's C-17 Globemaster III crew to practice in-flight refueling procedures. Kadena AB's crews don't get many opportunities to work with cargo aircraft like the C-17. At home they work

Joint Commission awards Wilford Hall full accreditation

Wilford Hall Medical Center was recently granted full accreditation from The Joint Commission for both their hospital and home health programs. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits nearly 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, not-for-profit

Heritage to Horizons series highlights 50th Space Wing

The latest Heritage to Horizons series presentation highlights an Air Force wing whose mission first called for mastery of the skies and has grown to master of space. Today, the 50th Space Wing at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., is responsible for the operations and support of more than 170